Gas-engine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. Q. CHASE. GAS ENGINE.

No. 595,043. Patented De0.7,1897.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 J. Q. CHASE.

GAS ENGINE. 1

No. 595,043 Patented Dec. 7,1897.

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to the letters and figures of reference marked Uniinio STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOI-IN Q. CHASE, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

GAS-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 595,043, dated December '7, 1897.

Application filed May 28,1896. Serial No. 593,477. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN Q. CHASE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Engines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and

thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to gas-engines; and it has for its object to provide certain improvementsin engines of this character which, while simple in construction, shall be efficient and powerful in operation.

To this end the main and primary object of the invention contemplates a gas-engine operated by gasolene or other explosive hydrocarbon and which shall be constructed of comparatively few working parts, that provide for an explosion of the gas and air at every revolution of the shaft driven by the piston of the engine, thereby securing an increase in power over engines of that type in which the explosion of the explosive mixture is made at every other revolution of the shaft.

WVith this and other objects in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangements of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I represents a front elevation of my machine. Fig. II is a vertical sectional view of my ma chine on line 00 1 in Fig. IV; Fig. III, a side elevation of my machine; Fig. IV, a top View of the top cylinder-head with top plate removed, and Fig. V a vertical section of puppet-valve and gas and air pipe.

Similar letters and figures refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A A, foundation A, and projecting shelves 1 and 2, secured to the sides of the engine cylinder, constitute the framework of the machine.

The letter B represents the engine-cylinder, suitably mounted on framework A A, and is surrounded by a water-jacket l), in which a circulation of cold water is maintained during the operation of the engine to prevent heating of the cylinder.

O D represent, respectively, the upper and the lower heads of the cylinder, suitably fastened thereto and capped to close it. The space within the heads behind similar partition-Walls on line m y in each constitutes the explosion-chambers to accommodate the mixture of gas and air to be fed therein.

' E is the piston-rod passing through the head 0 and works through a proper stui'fingbox therein.

'E is the piston-head, securely mounted on the inner end of piston rod E by nut 6, arranged to reciprocate within cylinder I3, and has a stroke proportionate with the length of the cylinder. The upper and lower surfaces are made concave to enlarge to that extent the size of the explosion-chamber above and below the limit of the stroke and to confine the force of the explosion centrally to avoid possible loss of power.

F is the sliding cross-head, suitably mounted to a rod E at e and extending down and over cylinder B through guide-lugs ff along its sides to guide its action.

G G are similar crank-pitmen pivotally connected with cross-head F, extended, the lower ends of which are connected to wheels H H, suitably mounted on the outer ends of driveshaft I, having suitable bearings in framework A A, and as motion is given to piston E within the cylinder the same will be transmitted through the connections noted to the drive-shaft, from which motion can be communicated to any suitable machinery in the ordinary manner, miter-wheels 9 10 being suitably mounted to drive-shaft 11 for this purpose.

J and K and J and K represent two sets of similarly-constructed valve-stems properly located in and passing through the upper and lower heads O D, respectively, having similar seats 7t" and 7c in partition-walls properly located across heads (J D, respectively, and having guide-sockets in the opposite sides of each head, the valve-seatsintendcd to be held normally closed by the action of similarly-- to the outer end of valve-stems J and J, re-

spectively, intended to be actuated laterally, are provided with metal points, and are elec loo trically connected with one pole of an electric battery and intended to automatically cause the ignition of the explosive compound at either end of the cylinder at the proper time by coming into contact with the other pole of the current, as at points 57, as hereinafter further described.

3 is an upright shaft parallel with the cylinder, having its bearings in projecting shelves 1 and 2, provided with miter-wheel 5 near its lower end to engage with a like wheel 17, mounted on shaft 12 and revolving synchronously with it, motion being imparted from drive-shaft I by means of cog-wheels 6, idlewheel 7, and cog-wheel 8. Wheel 5 is sized with its connecting-gearing so as to make one revolution to two revolutions'of the crankshaft I, thereby causing alternate electrical connection for each of arms L and L for every two strokes of the piston. The alternate lifting and dropping of arms L and L are produced by means as follows: At or near either end of shaft 3 are suitably-mounted similar disks 35,which revolve with the shaft. Oppositely placed as compared with each other on the upper side of the top disk and on the lower side of the lower disk are similar projections 50, intended to come into contact with the free ends of levers 31 and 32, respectively, in their several tracks to lift the levers, causing stems J and J to rock and the points of arms L and L on the stems to alternately come into contact with the other pole of the electric current and the connection immediately broken by the action of the coilsprings 33, respectively. Similar projectionpoints 36 are properly secured and located on the free ends of levers 32 and 31 and on the under and top side of the levers, respectively, in the track of projections 50, respectively, to positively and quickly lift and drop the levers in the revolution of disks 35. Above and below these disks on shaft 3 at either end and opposite, respectively, to projections are placed cams 51, so located as to alternately come into contact with arms 32 and 31, respectively, in the track of the cams to impinge and open the exhaust-valves on stems J to allow the escape of the burned products after the explosion, respectively, at either end of the cylinder.

4 are duplicate upright shafts parallel with shaft 3 along the cylinder, having a common bearing at one end in projecting lug 52, attached to the cylinder, and in shelves 1 and 2 at the other end. On the outer free ends of these shafts are rigidly fastened arms M and N of proper shape and length to reach and actuate valve-stems K and K, respectively, to open the valves in the heads 0 and D, respectively, by pressure, the lateral turning of the shaft being caused by means hereinafter stated.

Above and below projecting lugs 52 and rigidly attached to upper and lower shafts 4, respectively, are duplicate levers 37 and 38, shaped to come together at one end to reach and impinge separately valve-stem 43, and the other end to ride over and normally keep out of contact with lugs 15 and 16 of cam 13.

13 is a cam loosely mounted on a spline on shaft 3, held and actuated thereon by lever 49, having lugs 15 and 16, oppositely placed with each other, alternately shifting the lugs in and out of contact with levers 37 and 38, respectively, to regulate the opening of the valve 43, whereby the supply of gas and air admitted into'the explosion-chambers at either end of the cylinder is regulated. The same action that actuates either lever 37 or 38 and valve-stem 43 to open the valve also simultaneously actuates either arm M or N and valve connections 70, since they are respectively fastened to the same shaft and allow the carbon gas used to find its way through these valves into the explosion-chambers at either end of the cylinder.

It willbe seen that cams 51,0ppositely placed on disks 35 with respect to each other, will alternately open exhaust-valves J in the revolution of shaft 3, and that projections 50, oppositely placed on disks 35 with respect to cams 51 and with each other, will alternately actuate L and L to cause the electrical connection and explosion and at the time when the exhaust-valves are closed.

19 is an upright connecting-rod to operate lever 49 and crank-shaft 20 simultaneously, lever 49 having its fulcrum in the cylindershell and its free end in the groove of cam 13. Crank 23 is rigidly fastened to crank-shaft 20 and has its bearings in suitable boxing 22, attached to the framework of the machine. Crank-shaft 20 is provided with a hanging lug 53, as is best seen in Fig. II, to engage in a groove 24 of collar 54, which in turn is loosely mounted on crank-shaft I and is actuated thereon by the well-known governor stems and balls 26 and 27, having bearings 28 and 29 at either end of bracket 30, mounted on the crank-shaft, which, together with the springs 39 and 40, complete the mechanism for the opening of the duplicate valve-stems according to the speed of the engine.

41 is an upright pipe connecting the upper and lower heads 0 and D of the cylinder and particularly the like air-chambers in each, the only outlet to these chambers being through valve-seats when raised. Properly placed in pipe 41 is a puppet-valve 44 on stem 43 to regulate the connection between pipe 41 and air-chamber 56, held normally closed by the action of coil-spring 46 on stem 43, extended through the rear side of pipe 41, having a bearin g therein and surrounded bysuitable packing. On the stem end and surrounding valve-seat 44 is constructed airchamber 56, with proper packing around the same, provided with air-holes 45 to admit air into this chamber. Communicating with airchamber 56 through holes or sieve connections 43 is constructed oil-pipe 42 to admit a free spray of the oil through this opening by gravity into the air-chambers for mixture with the air and admission through the valve into pipe 41.

58 are duplicate posts to hold the electrical wire and are of well-known construction and are located in extensions above and below the top and lower plates of the cylinder, respectively, to accommodate the bend in arms L and L when actuated.

From the above it is thought that the op eration and many advantages of the hereindescribed gas-engine will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

IVhen the piston descends-within the cylinder to the lowest point illustrated in Fig. II, the explosive mixture of gas and air is compressed within chamber D, where it is exploded, lower arm L, actuated by lower projections 50, causing the electrical connection and spark in the chamber for this purpose, and the piston ascends in the cylinder and returns with one revolution of the crankshaft and ahalf-revolution of shaft 3, thereby opening the lower exhaust-valve, releasing the products of the explosion from the cylinder. This same half-revolution of shaft 3, since lug 15 on cam 13 is oppositely placed as compared with lower projection 50, also simultaneously opens by the means heretofore described the inlet-valves 43 and K to admit other hydrocarbon to be vaporized and absorbed by the current of air drawn into this supply-chamber to be again compressed by the piston in its upward movement and this action repeated in the reverse end of the cylinder. It being apparent that each set of inlet-valves is alternately operated once for every two sweeps of the piston in the cylinder to receive the new charges, the exhaustvalves alternately open every two sweeps of the piston to let the burned products escape and the electrical connection alternately made for every two sweeps of the piston, and that the same movement that alternately opens each set of the inlet-valves at one end alternately opens the exhaust-valves at the other end.

It will of course be understood that by the use of gravity inlet and exhaust valves and possibly other changes in minor detail of con struction, but without departing from the principles of this invention, the same may be made to apply to a horizontal engine.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a gas-engine, the combination of a cylinder provided at its opposite ends with supply and compression chambers, a piston-head with double concave surfaces, duplicate inlet and exhaust valves, the air-supply pipe connected with the supply-chambers at either end of the cylinder, a normally-closed inletvalve arranged within the air-supply pipe, a valve-spray connection with the hydrocarbon pipe, duplicate levers to actuate the valve in the gas and air supply pipe, and means for automatically opening the inlet and exhaust valves at the opposite ends of the cylinder at the limit both of the downward and upward strokes of the piston, according to the requirements of the engine substantially as herein set forth.

2. In a gas-engine, the combination of the cylinder provided at its opposite ends with supply and compression chambers, a piston head and rod, a sliding cross-head over and along the sides of the cylinder to actuate the piston rod and head, pitman-bars pivotally connecting the sliding cross-head, a crankshaft suitably journaled in framework, suitable fly-wheels, a counter-shaft, duplicate valve-shafts, suitably j ournaled in the framework, and means whereby the counter-shaft makes one revolution to two revolutions of the crank-shaft automatically and the inlet and exhaust valves at the limit both of the downward and upward strokes of the piston, alternating with a like opening of the exhaustvalves, substantially as set forth.

3. In a gas-engine, the combination of the cylinder provided at its opposite ends with supply and compression chambers, a piston head and rod, a sliding cross-head over and along the sides of the cylinder to actuate the piston rod and head, pitman-bars pivotally connecting the sliding cross-bar, a countershaft and suitable connecti'iiggearing,whereby the counter-shaft makes one revolution to two revolutions of the crank-shaft, disks at either end of the counter-shaft, a lug 011 each oppositely placed with respect to each other, a cam 011 each disk oppositely placed with respect to the lugs, to automatically cause an electric spark, and open the exhaust-valves at the opposite ends of the cylinder alternately at the limit of both the downward and upward stroke of the piston, alternating with a like opening of the inlet-valves for the purposes described and set forth.

4. In a gas-engine, in combination with the framework, a cylinder B provided at its opposite ends with supply and compression chambers (J and D, a piston-head E, rod E, sliding cross-head F, pitman-bars G G, crankshaft I, counter-shaft 3, bevel-wheels 5 and 17, cog-wheels 6 and 8, idle-wheel 7, wheel 5 in diameter half that of wheel 8 whereby counter-shaft 3 makes one revolution to two of crank-shaft I, duplicate disks 35, duplicate projections 50, lugs 51, projections 36, spring-levers 31 and 32, upper and lower shafts 4, duplicate arms M and N, levers 37 and 38, valve connections J and K, pipes 41 and 42, valve 43, collar 14, earns 15 and 16 and governor connection, lever 49, rod 19, crank 23, shaft 20, lug 53, collar 54, bracket 30, spring-arms 39 and 40, for the purposes described and set forth.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN Q. CHASE.

Witnesses:

JAMES R. FINOH, RUDOLPH SHAFFER.

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